Shirt packaging device



Nov. 8, 1949 w. w. MC1-'ALL ET A1. 2,487,761

SHIRT PACKAGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l c INVENTURISWLZ/ [VC/40% "lx/'ed 0 E655 fie/1 MM /fmf @E NOV. 8, 1949 w w. McFALL EfAL, 2,487,761

SHIRT PACKAGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pnenred Nov.s, 1949 SHIRT PACKAGING DEVICE William W. McFall, River Forest, and FredO. Kestner, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Package Masters, Inc., Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 14, 1948, SerialNo. 8,394

claims. l

This invention pertains to a very simple, inexpensive, paper boarddevice adapted for use in the folding and packaging of articles ofapparel such as shirts.

It is an object of the invention to provide a shirt or like packagingdevice of the above type which is adapted to serve as a folding form forthe shirt in the packaging of the same, which is so constructed andarranged as to avoid excessive or objectionable creasing of the shirt infolding, and which contributes substantially to increased speed and easein the packaging operation.

Another object is to provide a device of the type described in the formof a paper board panel which, when operatively associated with a shirtor like garment in the intended manner, results in a package having thesame overall width and length as existing types of shirt packaging orwrapping boards, thereby enabling use of the device with shirts whichare to be boxed in standard types of paper board cartons, folding boxes,and the like.

A still further object is to provide a iiexible, paper board shirtpackaging or folding device of the above description which is adapted tosustain the various folds of a shirt with which it is associated in a,positive fashion and throughout the width thereof.

The foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the natureof the invention, but other and more specific objects will be apparentto those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of theconstruction and operation of the device.

A single embodiment of the invention is presented herein for purpose ofexempliiication', but it will be appreciated that the invention issusceptible of incorporation in other modied forms coming equally withinthe scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the device in accordance with the presentinvention showing the same in a fiat condition, prior to association ofa shirt therewith and manipulation thereof in the intended manner;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating successive foldingoperations in manipulating the device for the packaging of aconventional mans sport shirt;

Fig. 5 is a. somewhat enlarged rear view, illustrating the completion ofthe package by the application of securing strips; and

Fig. s is a front view Qi the finally pwkused article.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the present device takes the formof an extremely simple, flexible paper board blank l0 of generallyrectangular outline. This blank is provided with a multiple transversecrease or fold line II 1ocated somewhat below its mid point andextending entirely across the blank, thereby facilitating folding of thedevice while accommodating the several layer thickness of the shirtwhich is packaged thereby. Crease II subdivides the blank l0 intofoldably connected lower and upper panels I 0 I Il respectively.

The upper edge of the blank is shaped by cutting the same to afford acentral, shirt collar engaging tongue I2 and a pair ofshoulder portionsI3. Said portions are spaced from either side of said tongue bydownwardly and outwardly divergent, curved bays or recesses Il ofsubstantial depth, which deilne the like, inwardly facing, curvedextensions I5 on said shoulders. Extensions I5 have the effect ofincreasing the length of the straight horizontal upper margin I6 of saidshoulders for a purpose to be described. Bays I4 accommodate the shirtcollar when tongue I2 is shipped between the rear areas of the collarand neckband.

In employing the device, the garment to be wrapped, illustrated as aconventional mans sport shirt and designated by the reference numeraiI1, is disposed face downward, in the fashion illustrated in Fig. 2. Thetongue I2 is then inserted under the rear portion of the shirt collar,denoted I8, and it will be noted that the outwardly divergent recessesI4 receive and accommodate the outward i'lare of the collar withoutrumpling or creasing the same. In this disposition of the parts, thearms i9 of the shirt are successively folded rearwardly onto the body ofthe blank and' on one another, and the skirt portion 20 of the shirt isbrought upwardly and inwardly at either sides, as also illustrated inFig. 2.

The lower edge of the shirt skirt is next folded upon itself to decreaseits length by about two or three inches and said skirt portion is thenfolded upwardly and over the bottom margin of `the lower panel IIJ' ofthe blank, to overlie the thus shirt arms in the fashion shown in Fig.3. The entire lower panel and portions of the shirt superposed thereonare then folded upwardly around the hinge line II and onto the panel II"and remainder of the shirt.

This completes the manipulation of the device and the package isfinished by applying a g5 Standard type of paper strip or band 2l toencircle the same adjacent opposite sides thereof. These bands arewrapped, transversely of Vthe direction of fold of the device and inparallel relation to one another, about the exposed shoulders I3 of thedevice, and are secured by pins or an adhesive. It will be noted byreference to Figs. 5 and that the relatively long marginal edge I6 ofsaid shoulders affords a wide base for the wrapping of the band 2|, thusmaking it possible for the paper bands to be positioned and securedproperly at high speed, without requiring particular care or skill onthe part of the operator.

In order to display the mapped shirt most attractively, we contemplatethat the shoulder portions I3 thereof, or, for that matter, the entireforwardly exposed area of the blank, may be printed in simulation of anappropriate fabric or suiting, as indicated by the reference numeral' 23in Fig. 6, so as to be exposed as a background for the shirt. A numberof designs and/ or colors may be made available which will blend orcontrast, as desired, with the color or texture of the shirt which iswrapped. This is a particularly advantageous feature in the packaging ofnew merchandise, although it also lends itself to an attractive displayof freshly laundered shirts.

The package is shown in its final form in Figs. 5 and 6. It should benoted that the present device extends out practically to the sides ofthe shirt, so that the latter is effectively supported throughout itstransverse dimension. Sharp creasing of the pockets of the shirt isavoided, which has been an objectionable characteristic of previousshirt packaging forms or boards and the like, about which the shirt isfolded along longitudinal fold lines paralleling its sides, asdistinguished from the transverse folding of the present invention. Thelower edge of panel I' furnishes a. positive guide for the precisefolding of the shirt skirt, and crease Il provides a similarly accuratefolding point on which the multiple thickness is turned over on itself.

Thev securing bands 2i act to hold down the collar points 22, as will benoted in Fig. 6, so that the same are not likely to become displaced andrumpled. The entire packaged assembly is exceedingly compact in form,its dimensions being the same as those of previous wrapping forms andthe like so that it may be enclosed in standard cardboard boxes, such asare in common use by laundries and like establishments.

We claim:

1. A packaging device for shirts and like garments, comprising a memberof flexible fibrous stock adapted to be folded about a transverse zoneextending thereacross, said member being shaped along an upper edgethereof generally `paralleling said zone to provide-a medial collarengaging tongue having opposed side margins converging upwardly to saidedge and a pair of elongated shoulder portions on either side of saidtongue, the upper margins of which generally parallel said edge, saidshoulder portions .being separated from said tongue by recesses ofsubstantial width in said edge.

2. A packaging device for shirts and like gar- 10 ments, comprising amember of exible fibrous stock adapted to be folded about a transversezone extending thereacross adjacent the mid point thereof, said memberbeing shaped along an upper edge thereof generally paralleling said zoneto provide a medial collar engaging tongue having opposed side marginsconverging upwardly to said edge and a pair of elongated shoulderportions on either side of said tongue, the margins of which generallyparallel said edge, said shoulder portions being separated from saidtongue by downwardly and outwardly curved divergeht recesses in saidedge which are of substantial width and which open to said edge atrelatively enlarged throat portions.

3. A packaging device for shirts and like garments, comprising agenerally rectangular member of iiexible paper board stock provided witha transverse fold line extending thereacross adjacent the mid pointthereof, said member being shaped along an edge thereof generallyparalleling said fold line to provide a central collar engaging tongueand a pair of shoulder portions spaced on either side of said tongue,said last named portions including extensions facing in the direction ofsaid tongue to increase the marginal length of said shoulder portions.

4. A packaging device as set forth in claim 1, in which said shoulderportions are treated to simulate a material other than said fibrousstock .10 and thereby afford a display background for a garmentassociated with the device.

5. A packaging device as set forth in claim 3, in`which said shoulderportions are treated to simulate a material other than said paper board5 stock and thereby aiford a display lbackground for a garmentassociated with the device.

WILLIAM W. McFALL. FRED O. KESTNER.

trEFERENCEs CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS u Number Name Date 1,826,206 Farrelly Oct. 6,A1931 1,838,262 Kabins Dec. 29, 1931

